Week 3 of 52 Photo Project-WARM

WARM....That word brings up a lot of different ideas. A warm sunset, a sleeping child all snug as bug in a rug, or something cookin' up in your crock pot. This week I chose cookies...when they are warm & gooey out of the oven.

This past week I posted on my Facebook that I was in dire need of a good Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe & this one is good. For some reason, of all the baking & cooking that I do, I couldn't seem to master the Chocolate Chip Cookie. I'm still no "master" but this recipe at least makes me feel pretty close to having mastered it.

Here is the recipe, thanks to Nancy Almstrom, a long time family friend. Thanks, Nancy!

Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/3 c. flour...use at least 1/2 whole wheat
3/4 t. baking soda
3/4 t. salt
1 cup( 2 stix) unsalted butter at room temp (not lite)
1 c brown sugar, packed
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1 egg
1 t vanilla
1 pkg 12oz. semi sweet chips, more to taste
1 plus cup walnuts or pecans...optional*

Measure out flour, b.soda & salt. Set aside.

Beat together butter & sugars until creamy in lg mix bowl.

Beat in egg & vanilla. Then stir in flour, chips, & nuts.

Bake 375 oven. I use parchment paper on cookie sheets. Bake 12 min or until golden. I used a large scoop.

* My family are not "nuts in your cookies" type people but oh, man, I think these cookies would have been BETTER w/ pecans in them!

Also, I decided to freeze the cookie balls so we could have fresh cookies anytime.

Week 2 of 52 photo project- STRIPES

This weeks "challenge" was stripes. In normal fashion, I waited till the last minute...like last night, b/4 Bear had to be in bed. (I actually made him put these clothes on as he was already in his jammies).

I was really excited after I got the theme of this weeks project. I even had a dream about what I was going to do...set up playing cards in the sun & then take a picture of their shadow...I don't know, it was a dream. I saw stripes everywhere but I forgot to bring my camera with me or didn't think to use my phone. Sometimes I forget that it has that function. So this is what I got. Bear reading his Harry Potter book in his favorite striped shirt, but I got it done.

Wonder what this week's project will be???

1st week of 52 photography challenge

Ok, so my photography instructor Nicholle Goodnight
teamed up w/ her friend to do a 52 Week Photography challenge. She said anyone could join in, so I thought I'd try it out. Maybe this way I'll actually make a post at least once a week instead of once every six months. We shall see...

This weeks challenge subject was "feather". You can view their pix at the links above. Above is my 1st attempt.

And actually, I didn't see this challenge until last night & just happened to have this photo, I took last week. If you want to join in, you can start the challenge at anytime, just send your pic in b/4 Friday to 1 of the ladies above. Next weeks challenge is "STRIPES".

Beergaritas.....

I know.....sounds disgusting, right? Let me tell you... they are NOT! I always learn something new from my northern cousin. Here's the recipe:

Beergaritas

Mix together:

4 beers...any beer...yucky kinds, good kinds, whateva' ya got layin' around.

1 can of limeade

1/2 the can of empty limeade container filled w/ tequila

It is surprisingly tasty.

My hubby's smokin'

Ribs, that is. Hubby got an Orion smoker for Father's Day and we thought it would be fun to try it out while his brother & s-n-law were in town. Hubby's brother is a smoke meister so he helped a little bit too.

It looks like it's ready for take off!

Prepping the smoker to insert the ribs.

We seasoned with a prepackaged rub, but I think next time we'll try our own stuff.

Checking to make sure the ribs are done. Took only 1 hr. 15mins for 3 racks. Next time might try cooking a little longer but they still were fine.
Finished product. Can't wait to try something new...hmmm...maybe brisket.

Manhappiness

A couple of weeks ago we went to Manhattan to visit some friends. 1st up on the schedule was to head to State Farm for my annual insurance check-up to make sure our coverage was where it needed to be. Of course, my main reason for going was to catch up with all my old co-workers. It had been a long time since I had seen these people face to face.

Next, I met my girl friend & her kids for lunch & then it was off to the pool. Unfortunatly, my friends' daughter had volleyball camp so she couldn't join us but her son went w/ us. Bear was crazy. Here he is jumping off the high dive, no reservations. He just climbed up the stairs, walked to the end of the board & jumped. He definatly is my little risk taker(to a point).

C and Bear

Julie....one of my besties!

We ended the day at Dairy Queen. Above L to R...Bear, Jon, Katy (C's future wife, if I had my way), & C. Lots of fun today. Bear slept all the way home. Great day!

Cookie Dough & Corn...try again

Ok, that was weird. I'm still getting the hang of "blogger" blog & it's workings. So below are pictures of the Cookie Dough brownies I made last week. 1st you make brownies, then the cookie dough. When the brownies are cool, top w/ the the cookie dough. Cover & stick in the freezer to harden. Then melt chocolate chips & drizzle on top of the brownies.

I brought "samples" to my mom & her co-workers. They thought the pieces needed to be more bite size because they were so rich. I agree. I serve them in 1" bites w/ a glass of milk or coffee.

I used the recipe from Recipegirl.com Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies


Grilled Corn on the Cob with BACON

I've heard/seen lots of places about grilled corn on the cob in the shucks. I've really been in the grilling mood, so I thought I would tackle the corn this time. 1st, you need to soak the corn in the shuck in icy water for 15-30 mins. 2nd clean the silks out of the corn, wrap a slice or 2 of bacon around the corn, gently pull the shucks back up to cover the bacon corn. Place the corn on the grill. We made sure the burner wasn't too high as it may catch fire. We cooked it for approx. 20 minutes.

Ok, let's just say, this was one of the messiest things I've ever made. I suppose it doesn't help that we did catch the corn on fire so there was a lot of ash. The corn itself was delicious, but to me, not worth the mess. Next time we'll, not sure why I keep saying we since it was I who will be doing this, I will clean the corn, foil it & cook on grill.

Cookie dough & Corn

Something new....

Every once in a while, the boys like to pick out a new fruit or veggie to try. So while at our local grocery store the other day, they pleaded with me to try this. It was sort of strange as they usually run screaming when I try to get them to eat cantaloupe or any other melon, but I wasn't going to argue when they approached me w/ this one.

Here is the Lemondrop Melon. I was surprised when I cut it open to find it was more like a Honeydew melon rather than a cantaloupe. The melon is pretty tasty. Nice lemony flavor on top of a melon flavor. The boys were not fans. I didn't really think they would be but I was happy they wanted to try it anyhow.

Tennis Tourney

For the last 2 weeks, C's been taking tennis lessons. They ended the 2 weeks with a tournament between the 3 different classes. Overall C did really good. He took what he learned and applied them to the game.

He wouldn't let me take a picture ('cause it's embarrassing), so I had to get this one on the sly.

Another good swing.

This is Bear not watching his brother play. He enjoyed reading the Guiness 2011 World Record book.